Residents will soon no longer see the Seacoast Soap Company in downtown Hampton, although the store owners are dropping the moniker from the High Street building as a way to better serve local shoppers, not because they're going out of business.

Co-owner John Davey said they are changing the name of the shop to J&M Unique Gift Creations after numerous participants in the recent Hampton Arts Network Art Walk told him they didn't know the Seacoast Soap Company was "more than just soaps."

"During the Hampton Art Network Art Walk many new customers to our store have commented 'I never knew this was as gift store,' or the most common, 'I thought you only sold soaps,'" said Davey. "We felt it was time to let people know we are a full gift store with gifts for everyone and even your home, in addition to our full line of Seacoast Soaps bath care products."

The Seacoast Soap Company will still exist, and bath soaps and other company products will still be sold out of the store after the name change.

Unique Gift Creations offers many locally hand crafted items including, but not limited to: hand knits for children through teens, table runners, place mats, hand-crafted jewelry, pottery, artwork ("originals and prints"), hand-painted stained glass, and cards for all occasions by Carol Dostie, Valerie Laker, Libby's Gallery and Bob Goudreau.

We also sell unique gifts for the home and are always getting new and exciting items.

The business is holding an all-day open house on Saturday, Dec. 1, to introduce the new name to customers. Please stop by and see what Unique Gift Creations has to offer. We will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

John, Mark and Cristin gladly welcome you all to our new store name and we will gladly answer any questions you may have.

We are located at 3 High St. in Hampton (directly across from Hagans Grill). Phone: 603-926-7255.